The Secret Speech

The Secret Speech is a report written by Nikita Khrushchev, delivered to the Communist Party Central Committee, and released to the public directly by the State rather than through the newspapers. It outlines the crimes, wrongdoings, and mistakes of Stalin’s reign, and promises a return to the roots of Communism. The Speech becomes a catalyst for much of the novel, as hundreds of thousands of wrongfully imprisoned people are released and seek revenge against the State, including Fraera. Hoping for reform, Khrushchev and his reformers are stunned to see that the move unleashes widespread hatred, and numerous acts of reprisal. Khrushchev and the reformers ultimately walk back much of what they have proclaimed in a redacted version of the speech.

The redacted Secret Speech

The Redacted Secret Speech is a heavily-edited version of Khrushchev’s original Secret Speech, with the intent of damage...